Enetimi Alfred Odom otherwise known as Timaya has remained one of the constantly visible musicians in the last decade. Timaya, 36, has remarkably rebranded his look and music in order not to be “left behind”. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON the self-acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa speaks about his towering career, marriage and other controversies.

Congrats on your new album Epiphany. What informed that choice of name?

Epiphany is a re-invention of me. I have been in the industry for some years now and know what sells. It is a consolidation of my previous works and a re-direction of what Timaya is now up to.

The name Epiphany is being used by another artiste, an American artiste, for an album of his. Are you aware of this?

Yes, it was after I pushed my work out and named my album Epiphany that I found out that T-Pain also used it. It’s like, you come buy new car and you come see sey other people get the kind car wey you buy. I guess it’s a coincidence. My own Epiphany redefines a new Timaya, bigger and better.

People have this notion that Timaya is arrogant?

Thank you, but that is old news. As you can see, I’m not one. It’s just like you journalists are coming to ask me about my relationship with Empress Njamah in this 2014? That is crap and I expect more from you journalists.

We are now in a political era, will you return to the South-South to sing at the campaign of some of your kinsmen vying for political offices?

No, I don’t sing praises to men again; I sing praises to God. If they invite me to come perform in an event, I’ll go and do my thing, but not to go and sing the praises of a politician. Our politics leaves much to be desired and I’m not planningto vote in the first place. Maybe if things change,I’ll change my mind.

Your song, Sankho, is becoming an instant hit. How did you pull it through?

Yea, I give thanks to God for the success. Sankho is a dance hall song and it shows that Timaya is still very much relevant and my spirit is hungry. I’m still an upcoming artiste. I’ve so much energy to give and fans should watch out for the rebranded Timaya.

Is it by sheer coincidence that you now have a new hair style and your kind of song has changed?

It was deliberate. The face of music is changing and you must change with the times or you’ll be left behind. I used to do dreadlocks because I wanted to be known and different. So I made myself look crazy at a point in my life by wearing dreads. The controversial thing I did then were deliberate for the media to report because I was just an unknown artiste from Bayelsa. Now with my new look, folks say I look different. Well that is what they call rebranding.

What should we expect from Timaya in 2015?

I’m praying to God for a better life. I went to Shiloh (an annual end-of-year prayer retreat organized by Winners Chapel) to pray and dedicate my life and career to Him. Let the wind blow me into the right direction. I have committed my 2015 into God’s hands. I don’t want to struggle for things anymore. When God blesses your work, a little labour brings much reward.

Does your plan for 2015 include getting married?

I don’t know about that. You people want me to marry in 2015 and I’m not ready for that. So, no Timaya junior yet. The reason why I post my daughter’s picture on Instagram is because I love her a lot. She means a lot to me.

But you have the wherewithal to marry the girl’s mother?

Marriage is not all about money. You think we artistes have all the money in the world. It is a lie and we just put a front to show that we are rich. Marriage is not it for me now. I mean, I’m still young and have a big career and tasks to accomplish before me.

Your music has changed, what’s the secret?

It’s all about hard work. No Nigerian musician has ever rebranded hundred percent and changed his music. I have done that. I realised that what brought us this far in music industry is the old music that impacts the society and enhances our cultural value not the kind of music and noise that we hear today. I also did some bad music, but I have turned it low and I’m now tuned to do more good music.

But your video like Shake Your Bum Bum has a lot of vulgarity in it?

That is what the people want to hear as at that time. And it was what put food on our table and generated me gabucks. I have other songs like Bow Down and people like that too. Shake Up your Bum Bum remix with Sean Paul generated 13 million views and it was loved by everybody. That is the kind of song that people love, club songs with women in their fleshy nature and it’s no one’s fault.That is part of the pop culture that we find ourselves.

What’s your assessment of the music industry currently?

The industry is getting better and busier. At this level of my stay in the industry, I don’t want to struggle for what is mine. I’ll do my stuff, performmy gigs and count the mega bucks. The other time, I was urged to get more people to follow me on twitter. But for what? If I don’t deserve it, why should I pay to be verified? I don’t need that kindof push. Whatever is mine will be mine. My true fans will support me and rally round my cause not the other way round. I’m still Timaya, the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa.